Calling All Mytho-Freaks! Take A Look At These Best Mythological Books, Ever!

Seated comfortably on cane cots, adjusting their glasses and fanning away the flies in the verandah, with their mesmerising cadence, grandmothers, for most of us, were our first storytellers. They would tell us about the mischievous Kanha, talk highly of Lord Rama, the lessons learnt from the battle of Mahabharata and every mind-numbing tale Indian mythology has to offer. They planted seeds of love for mythology and a thirst for knowing what was, and what wasn't. Today, that generation, the generation that grew up watching Ramanand Sagar's Ramayana, thrives on the works of contemporary authors like Devdutt Pattanaik and Amish Tripathi. And if you relate to everything mentioned above, these are the best mythological books that can make you relive your good ol' childhood days...

These are the best mythological books you should definitely be reading right now:

1. The Palace Of Illusions

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Mahabharata is the epic tale of the battle between two related clans. The centuries old epic has been told and retold a million times. The Palace Of Illusions is just another retelling of the epic, but with a twist - this time, the narrator is Draupadi, the one married to five princes - the one blamed by many for enraging Duryodhana, and causing the battle.

2. Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling Of The Mahabharata

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Jaya is hands down one of the best mythological books that retells the unfolding of Mahabharata. It starts from the start and ends beyond the end, it is a tale of tales, with a lesson to be learnt from every chapter. Devdutt Pattanaik has done a miraculous job of giving an illustrated retelling, while making this ancient tale sound like a completely new story.

3. The Immortals Of Meluha

A treat to Shiva Bhakts, and an eye-opener for the rest, The Immortals Of Meluha features on the list of the best mythological books, thanks to how it speaks of a God, Shiva, like he is just another human, only to gradually elevate him to the same stature. With his master weaving of words, Amish Tripathi has managed to make Shiva the coolest Hindu god.

4. Karna's Wife: The Outcast's Queen

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An abandoned son, an unacknowledged brother and a heartbroken lover - the Indian mythology speaks highly of the Sun God's son, Karna. This book is for all those mytho-geeks who have felt the pain of this charioteer's son, empathised with his dilemma, and cried when he died at the end of the battle. Yes, he was the greatest warrior that walked the earth. Let his wife Urvi tell you his story through her eyes.

5. Shyam: An Illustrated Retelling Of The Bhagavata

One of the most recent and best mythological books, Shyam, is a beautiful and intense retelling of the Bhagavad Gita. The book opens with Shyam, Lord Vishnu's avatar, spending his time in Gokul and Vrindavan, and moves on to impart the unparalleled wisdom of the Gita. During the battle of Mahabharata, Arjun finds himself conflicted over fighting his own brothers, rushing to Lord Krishna for guidance. Hence begins the chapter of Bhagavata, with Krishna telling him about the law of karma, and how it's all that matters.